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Malcolm X
The fearless orator who told Black America to demand dignity by any means necessary.
The rise
After a hard youth and a prison term, Malcolm Little transformed himself into Malcolm X, becoming the electrifying national spokesman of the Nation of Islam and its message of Black pride and self-reliance.
What they did
He built the Nation's membership and gave uncompromising voice to Black anger at racism, challenging the mainstream civil-rights strategy. After leaving the Nation and making the pilgrimage to Mecca, he moved toward a broader, internationalist human-rights vision.
The full picture
His early rhetoric embraced separatism and harsh confrontation, and his break with the Nation of Islam made him enemies. He was assassinated in 1965 at 39, his evolving philosophy cut short.
Why it matters
Malcolm X gave enduring language to Black self-respect and self-defense, shaping Black Power, Pan-Africanism and generations of activists.
“A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything.”